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Ka-Pow! Comics Fight
Their Way Into the Mainstream

By

M.E. Russell

Updated March 4, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET

Portland, Ore.

A scene in the movie "American Splendor" takes place inside the Cosmic Comics store in Baltimore. Joyce (protagonist Harvey Pekar's future wife) is having a mini-meltdown as she vainly looks for the latest installment of Mr. Pekar's work -- the autobiographical comic of the movie's title. Her greasy, tremulous co-worker flees the store after one too many head-clutching outbursts, leaving Joyce alone in the...